Boat rudder with inserted heat exchanger



July 1, 1969 F. B. LANE 3,452,701

BOAT RUDDER WITH INSERTED HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Nov. 28, 1967 INVENTORFRANK B. LANE a, My

HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,452,701 BOAT RUDDER WITH INSERTEDHEAT EXCHANGER Frank B. Lane, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to United AircraftProducts, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 28, 1967,Ser. No. 686,123 Int. Cl. B63h 25/38 US. Cl. 114-162 7 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to boat rudders, andparticularly to a rudder incorporating in its sructural form a heatexchanger for the cooling of engine coolant and like purposes.

Fresh water cooling in boat engines is desirable but as heretofore knownhas required extensive equipment including internal heat exchangers,expansion tanks, raw water filters and similar apparatus. Efforts toplace heat exchangers outside the boat in order to avoid bringing rawwater to interiorly located equipment have met with little success dueto structural complications and for created hydrodynamic problems.

An object of the present invention is to enable fresh water coolingusing a heat exchanger which is in continuous, intimate contact withenvironmental water but which offers no structural or hydrodynamicproblems.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate a heat exchanger inthe boats rudder to be a part thereof in such manner that the heatexchanger serves a combined hydrodynamic and thermodynamic function.

A further object of the invention is to enable the rudder to be built toany particular size and configuration required by boat design whileretaining an ease of incorporation of a heat exchanger therewith.

Still another object of the invention is to provide heat exchangersaccording to a modular concept in which a heat exchanger of standardsize may be selected for installation in a rudder without requiringchange in the rudder form, it being an attendant object in thisconnection to provide that the heat exchanger will be selected inaccordance with heat transfer requirements only while the rudder intowhich it is built will be selected only with reference to marinehandling considerations.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will appear fromthe following description, when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly diagrammatic, of a rudder inaccordance with a first illustrated form of the invention mounted to aboat hull;

FIG. 2 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along the line2-2 of FIG. 1, and relatively enlarged; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly diagrammatic, of a rudder anaccordance with a second illustrated form of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fragment of a boat hull is shown withinwhich is an engine 11. The latter drives shaft means 12 extendingthrough and beneath the hull 10 and terminating in a propeller 13.Adjacent to and in the slip stream of the propeller 13 is a relativelylarge and irregularly shaped rudder 14. Along what may be considered itsleading edge 15 the rudder 14 is suitably fixed to a post 16. Post 16extends upwardly through a bearing 17 in hull 10 into the boat where atits upper end a tiller 18 is made fast. The arrangement, proportions andconfiguration of parts is that of a sailing yacht with auxiliary enginebut it will be understood that the invention is not limited to thisembodiment but may be used in any rudder equipped boat.

In accordance with the invention the rudder is formed with a rectangularcutout area or recess 19 opening through the leading edge thereof andextending toward but short of the opposite or trailing edge. Installedin the recess 19 in a manner substantially to interfit therein is a heatexchanger 21. The rudder post 16 is hollow and has flexible fluidconducting lines 22 and 23 therein. At their one ends the lines 22 and23 project through respective openings 24 and 25 in post 16 andcommunicate through one edge of the heat exchanger 21 with the interiorthereof. At their opposite ends the lines 22 and 23 extend out of thepost 16 within hull 10, and are connected to the cooling system ofengine 11, as by attaching to coolant outlet and inlet fittings 26 and27. As will be understood, in the operation of engine 11, engine coolantis pumped under pressure to the heat exchange 21, by way of line 22, andreturns to the engine by way of line 23.

The heat exchanger 21 may be conventionally formed for flow of thecoolant therethrough. In the illustrated instance it is comprised ofspaced apart flat plates 28 and 29 of substantial surface area formingthe sides of the unit. A U-shaped bracket or frame 31 is received inrecess 19 with its open end limiting against post 16. In bridgingrelation to the open end of frame 31 is a vertical end member 32defining with the frame a marginally enclosed space correspondingapproximately to the dimensions of plates 28 and 29. The plates arereceived in such space, with all parts being united to one another in awater tight manner, as by brazing, welding or soldering. Intermediateits ends, the end member 32 contacts the post 16 and may, like the endsof frame 31, be bonded thereto. At its opposite ends, at locationsopposite openings 24 and 25, member 32 is bent inward and has installedrelatively projecting inlet and outlet tubes 33 and 34. Fluid conductinglines 22 and 23 attach respectively to the tubes 33 and 34.

Within the assembly so defined and disposed in vertically spacedrelation between the inlet and outlet tubes 33 and 34, are baifiemembers 35 serving the dual purpose of supporting the plates 28 and 29on their inner surfaces and of constraining fluid entering inlet boss 31to follow a serpentine path in reaching outlet 32. The bafiles arefastened alternately to member 32 and to the base of frame 31 to definesuch path. The material of which the parts of the heat exchanger aremade is corrosion resistant, with at least plates 24 and 25 being madeof a material readily conducting heat.

The heat exchanger 21 may be held against displacement from recess 19 inany convenient manner as for example by overlapping brackets, fibreglass strips or the like fastened to the rudder. In the illustratedinstance, however, the U-shaped frame is formed on one side with aflange 36 to limit against the side of the rudder adjacent the marginsof recess 19. Screws 37, inserted through the flange and driven into therudder, held the heat exchanger removably in place. Sides of the flange36 may be tapered to a feather edge, for hydrodynamic reasons, with sideplates 28 and 29 substantially conforming to the sides of the rudder.

The width of the heat exchanger unit, as defined by the spacing betweenplates 28 and 29, approximately corresponds to the thickness of therudder at the location of recess 19. Accordingly, sides of the heatexchanger unit approximately align with and form continuations of thesides of the rudder. The result is that the heat exchanger iseffectively built into the rudder, becoming a part thereof andcomplementing the surface area of the rudder in carrying out thehydrodynamic functions thereof. At the same time, and in accordance withits dual function, the heat exchanger exposes opposing planar sides tointimate contact with environmental water for effective cooling of thefluid flowing through the heat exchanger unit. Side plates 28 and 29 maybe made thin for most effective heat transfer without weakening therudder at the location of the heat exchanger since the plates aresupported by baffles 35.

In the practice of the invention, the rudder may take any particularsize and outline form as required by boat design and marine handlingconsiderations. The heat exchanger unit similarly may be selected solelyin accordance with heat transfer requirements. A limited number ofstandard sizes of heat exchanger units may be supplied as required. Arudder in which a particular heat exchanger is to be installed isconstructed with a recess 19 of appropriate size, or, in the case ofinstallation in existing rudders, a recess 19 may be cut thereinaccording to necessary dimensions.

The heat exchanger finds particular utility incorporated in the ruddersince this provides a convenient protected place of installation anduse. Moreover, since the rudder is disposed in the propeller slip streamthere is always a flow of water over the surfaces of heat exchangerplates 28 and 29 even at low running speeds. The heat exchanger could,however, be similarly incorporated in. to be a part of other under Waterportions of a boat, for example a skeg or stabilizer.

According to a feature of the invention, the heat exchanger andassociated parts may be supplied in kit form to be installed in anexisting new or old rudder, obviating the need for special rudders. Theopening 19 may readily be cut in the rudder to receive the heatexchanger which is held therein by the flange 36 and screws. Fiber glassor like holding strips may if desired be applied to the opposite side ofthe rudder.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 3, a thick and tapered rudder38 has a pair of heat exchangers 39 and 41 installed in a recess 40.Constructed substantially like the heat exchanger 21, the units 39 and41 are connected respectively to incoming and outgoing hose lines 42 and43 and interconnected by a coupling 44. The pair of heat exchangersaccordingly are in series relation. Coolant from the engine flows firstto unit 39, by way of line 42, flows through unit 39 and then by way ofcoupling 44 to unit 41 and back to the engine by way of line 43. Theheat exchange units are set at an angle to conform to the tapered outersurface of the rudder, the concept of completing the rudder in ahydrodynamic sense while achieving a thermodynamic function beingretained, as in the case of heat exchanger 21. In both instancesopposing sides of a heat transfer means are presented for performing thedual purpose. Coupling 44 is preferably flexible and of sufiicientlength to allow positioning of the pair of heat exchangers varyingdistances from one another, and at different angles.

What is claimed is:

1. A boat rudder having a size and outline form required by boat designand cut away to define a through opening from side to side thereof, heattransfer means installed in said opening presenting opposing sidescomplementing sides of the rudder and serving a combined hydrodynamicand thermodynamic function, and means for circulating a fluid to becooled through said heat transfer means, said through opening having theform of a recess opening through one edge of the rudder as well asthrough the sides thereof, said circulating means comprising fluidconducting lines reaching said heat transfer means through the open edgeof said recess.

2. A rudder according to claim 1, characterized by a hollow post adaptedto be installed in to depend from a boat hull, the rudder being attachedalong said one edge thereof to said post, said fluid conducting linesextending to and from the rudder through said post.

3. A rudder according to claim 2, characterized in that said rudder isformed with leading and trailing edges in reference to a normaldirection of movement of a boat of which it is a part, said rudderattaching along said leading edge to said rudder post, said post beingin a closing relation to the open edge of said recess, said recessextending from said leading edge inwardly of the rudder toward saidtrailing edge, said heat transfer means being complementary to thebalance of the rudder structure to complete a rudder configuration.

4. A boat rudder having a size and outline form required by boat designand cut away to define a through opening from side to side thereof, andheat transfer means installed in said opening presenting opposing sidescomplementing sides of the rudder and serving a combined hydrodynamicand thermodynamic function, said heat transfer means including a heatexchanger generally rectangular in configuration installed on edge insaid through opening, said heat exchanger having a width conformingapproximately to the thickness of the rudder at the location of saidopening and being closed at its sides and edges, one edge being formedwith an inlet and an outlet for the fluid to be cooled and its sidesbeing made of a material readily conducting heat, the fluid flowingwithin said heat exchange in heat transfer relation to said sides, saidsides being exposed on their outer surfaces to direct contact withenvironmental fluids.

5. A rudder according to claim 4, characterized by means attaching tothe rudder and overlapping edges of said through opening to hold saidheat exchanger positioned within said through opening.

6. A boat rudder incorporating a kit for the fresh water cooling ofmarine engines, said kit including a heat exchanger of modular designhaving thermodynamic properties selected to suit heat transferrequirements of a given engine, said heat exchanger being adapted to beinserted into new or existing rudders selected to suit hydrodynamicproperties and requirements to be in contact with environmental waterwithout altering hydrodynamic properties'or requirements of the rudderaccording to the rudder and boat design, said rudder having a throughopening from side to side thereof and the heat exchanger being mountedon edge in such opening, the heat exchanger having a width correspondingapproximately to the thickness of the rudder at said location and beingclosed at its sides, said sides representing continuations of the sidesof said rudder and being exposed on their outer surfaces to directContact with environmental water, said kit further including connectionsto bring fresh Water to and from said heat exchanger.

7. A kit according to claim 6, wherein said heat exchanger is in pluralform to comprise two heat exchangers inserted in a rudder in generallyside by side relation, each presenting a wall in substantially flushrelation to a respective side of the rudder, the kit further including acoupling establishing a series relation between said heat exchangers,said coupling being flexible for positioning of said heat exchangersrelatively to one another to achieve said flush relation to the ruddersides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,386,803 10/1945 Jutte 1l4162ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 5

